Virgin River fans might need to do a double take after seeing the latest photos of Alexandra Breckenridge. The actress, best known for playing Mel Monroe in the beloved Netflix drama, looks *nothing* like her usual self in first-look images from her upcoming Christmas movie My Secret Santa—because she’s completely disguised as Santa Claus.
In the new Netflix rom-com, which debuts December 3, Breckenridge plays Taylor, a single mom who’s desperate to make ends meet over the holidays. To earn extra cash and give her daughter the Christmas she deserves, she takes an unusual job: posing as Santa at a luxury ski resort. What starts as a clever plan quickly gets complicated when she begins falling for the resort’s handsome manager, played by New Amsterdam star Ryan Eggold.
But it’s Breckenridge’s transformation that’s stealing the spotlight ahead of the film’s debut. In Entertainment Weekly‘s exclusive first look, she’s shown sporting a full prosthetic makeover: rosy cheeks, a long white beard, and a heavy red velvet suit that hides every trace of Mel Monroe. “It scared me to death,” she told EW, explaining that she spent hours in the makeup chair each day to achieve the look. “But I was like, ‘I have to do this because this is actually why I became an actress.'”
She also revealed that filming wasn’t exactly as cozy as it looks on screen. Between freezing outdoor shoots and sweltering indoor sets, she resorted to stuffing ice packs inside her Santa suit. Still, the experience reignited her love of acting. “It reminded me why I do what I do,” she said.
Directed by Mike Rohl (The Princess Switch) and written by Ron Oliver and Carley Smale (the team behind several Hallmark favorites), My Secret Santa promises plenty of holiday hijinks, heart, and humor. And if the photos are any indication, it might just deliver one of the most memorable Santa transformations we’ve ever seen!
Kelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.
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